The Lakers played far from their best game of the season on Saturday. But it may end up being one of their most important.

L.A. showed true grit in this one, and playing at full strength for the first time since Oct. 31 with Steve Nash back in the starting lineup, came from 14 down in the fourth quarter to beat a more-than-solid Warriors team in overtime 118-115.

Nash appeared to be all the way back from a non-displaced leg fracture that kept him sidelined for the last 24 games. He played 41 minutes, and finished with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, to go along with 9 assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

While Nash looked more than competent in his return, the play of Kobe Bryant didn’t leave him with a lot of opportunity to run the offense and create the easy looks for his teammates that Lakers fans hoped would be a consistent benefit of the new-look offense.

That may come with time and trust, but on this night, Bryant trusted only himself, and with very mixed results.

Bryant took an incredible 41 shot attempts in under 44 minutes of action. He made just 16, good for a mark of 39 percent. We’ve become numb to these types of performances from Bryant, where he continues to shoot no matter the consequences. On a team with Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, however, and even Nash, who is one of the game’s premier shooters and always does so while making a high percentage, it’s really unconscionable.

It appeared for the first three quarters as if this one would end up as so many have for the Lakers this season — a disappointing loss to a better team, while playing nowhere near the level of the collective talent the team has assembled. Bryant seemed hell-bent on shooting his team out of the game, Howard and Gasol were slow to rotate defensively, and there was no offensive rhythm to be found with Bryant forcing so many tough shots.

The Lakers’ fortunes changed in the fourth quarter, and the fact that Bryant was on the bench during the stretch that it happened was in no way a coincidence.

The Warriors led 90-76 with 10:35 remaining in the fourth, and that’s when a 10-0 run featuring key plays from Jordan Hill and Jodie Meeks sparked the Lakers comeback. When Bryant returned, he immediately scored inside to further cut the lead to two, and it was back and forth the rest of the way in one of the most entertaining contests we’ve seen all season.

The Lakers had a chance to win in regulation, and with the game tied, Nash flipped the ball to Bryant and let him go at it alone in isolation. He forced a tough jumper on the wing that fell short, and we headed to the extra session.

Once in overtime, Bryant continued to gun away, but the shots he made came once he received the ball following the defense choosing to collapse on a Nash-Howard pick-and-roll. A variation of that play should be run virtually every single time down the floor when that trio is in the game, and there’s no reason to believe that it won’t be a staple in the future once the coaching staff gets more time to work things out with Nash back in action.

The way this game began for the lakers wasn’t pretty, and was reminiscent of the poor play we’ve seen from this team too often this season. But the way it ended may prove to be something the team can build upon, and with Nash back in the lineup, you have to like their chances.

You are BELOW .500 with the HIGHEST payroll in basketball! Win one game after Nash comes back and suddenly you think everything is going to be fine? You’re season is already over, you’re just grasping at straws.

I must say, I’m well known as a non-Laker fan and I will go so far as to say that was their most impressive and most important win this season. One small caveat however, Nash played 41 minutes and played very well I might add. That many minutes per game in unsustainable period.

Like I posted previously and I will post again. I got a pair of tickets behind the bench at Staples center & would love nothing more than a Clippers vs Laker Playoffs. It would be even better if it was in the second round. Lakers will have to win 65% of their remaining games to have a shot at a 8 seed. As much as I’d like to see that across the hall playoffs I just don’t see how they can do it. I hope they prove me wrong. The vast majority of the remaining games are on the road and against quality teams. We shall see.

Not a mention on MWP on this article?? He was freakin’ fantastic in that game. And has been for the most part all year long. This is the best MWP/Artest we have had since he started sporting a Purple and Gold jersey a few years back.

Kobe was just on a off shooting night. It happens to everyone. Yet, he took good shots, shots he knew he was able to hit! You guys should stop hating on the mamba because there’s no offense without him. He bails the Lakers out on every single night!

Blame Dwight on how he played offensively. The guy throws up so many airballs in the post, it makes me cry every game i watch! Bynum was way more dominant than D12 in post ups.

Kobe was just on an off shooting night. It happens to everyone. Yet, he took good shots, shots he knew he was able to hit! You guys should stop hating on the mamba because there’s no offense without him. He bails the Lakers out on every single night!

Blame Dwight on how he played offensively. The guy throws up so many airballs in the post, it makes me cry every game i watch! Bynum was way more dominant than D12 in post ups.

@magicbuc aka big baby, you’re the only one grasping at straws. you’ve been talking trash all year about how the magic have a better record and now that’s over so you gotta find some new material… sorry but both teams in your name suck bucs are losing again and to the rams!!!